Sayyida Sardar Akhtar Haidrabadi

Sayyida Sardar Akhtar, whose original name was Sayyida Sardar Begum, descends form a Nawab family of Lucknow. She was a daughter of Sayyid Amir Hasan and was born in 1918. Her father died during her childhood and she was brought up by her uncle Mahbub Ali Khan.

She received her early education under the supervision of her uncle. In 1932, she was married to Khan Sahib Abdul Ghani Rais of Nasirabad (Rajputana).

At an early age, she displayed interest in poetry and literature. She was closely associated with some of women's educational and social organisations and frequently attended the sessions of the All India Muslim League. In 1937, during the annual session of the Provincial Muslim League at Gorakhpur, the title of Khatiba-i-Hind was conferred upon her.'' In 1938, she toured the Middle East, studying the cultural and social activities of women in these countries.

She was a bold, daring and energetic woman. Her eloquence and patriotic spirit helped her in becoming President of the women's central sub-committee of the All-India Muslim League in August 1939.5 In the same year, she was appointed Nazim Mahaz Jang, U.P., by Allama Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi.

Through her poems she preached unity to the nation and her message spread to every nook and corner of the subcontinent. She composed a Muslim League anthem for the election campaign and is also famous for her poem Na'ara-i-Mujahid.